PICTORIAL : THE FIRST OF 2 MACHINES ARRIVE FOR UNLIMITED ELECTRICITY IN SIERRA LEONE |
Written by Cocorioko Newspaper Limited | |
Monday, 17 December 2007 | |
Here is a pictorial display of the arrival in Freetown yesterday of the 10 megawatts Thermal Electricity Generator , which will be installed at the Blackhall Road Power Station and will supply 24-hour electricity to the surburbs of Freetown stretching to Waterloo .The 15 megawatts machine which will supply power to Greater Freetown and its environs will arrive tomorrow. Watch the display now.
Accessories of a ten mega watt of thermal plant at Kissy Ferry terminal Deputy Min. Martin Bash Kamara Min.Ernergy Haja Kabba AIG Francis Munu and Pres. Energy Emergency Task Force Chairman Dr. Lake at the Balckhall Power Station
Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Martin Bash Kamara with one of the compactments of the ten megawatts plants A ray of light…transforming hope into beliefSWIT SIERRA LEONE
When the APC won the 2007 elections the President clearly (and rightly) highlighted energy as one of his priorities. For those who don’t know the background to Sierra Leone’s power ‘issues’ – Sierra Leone has been plagued by very sporadic and poor power supply for the best part of the last 30 years hindering our push for investment in the country and sending the cost of living through the roof. Freetown is more or less powered by private generators, noisy and I’m not sure how good it is for the favourite buzz word at the moment – environment.
So, will they make the 20th? It’s seems a really tight deadline but we hope so. Last night, a convoy of Government officials went pas at 11pm so someone’s working pretty hard. How the SLPP refused to see the political weight of solving this issue beats me, and though not the only reason they were ousted I believe it was a big part. It was a very visible failure. Having been in Freetown now for a few days, it is clear to me that folks expect a lot from the current government, and know they have the power to kick them out if they don’t deliver. I’m sensing that hope is alive once again and transforming the hope into belief will no doubt be the catalyst for better times in Sierra Leone. Maintaining the momentum will be a challenge for the current government, but come December 20 or even (December 25, allowing them a few days) if the lights are switched on they would have gone some way towards making this happen. Good luck Sierra Leone! ===================== As it so happens I didn’t post the above when I wrote it due to limited Internet among other things. Since the above, the machines where indeed commissioned on December 20th by his excellency President Koroma. There was no big switch to 24hr power but with some of the transmission lines out there it may not be such a bad thing. Since the launch, areas of town have been experiencing increased electricity supply a a gradual pace. In fact today there was even power at my dad’s office and I heard him say he couldn’t remember the last time they went the whole day without switching on the generator. “Years” he said. So hope is still very much alive.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 17 December 2007 ) |
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Jubilant crowds followed the last of the thermal generators all the way to the Kingtom Power Station as excited Sierra Leoneans brace for the big occasion on Thursday: The switching on of the lights in Freetown . |